The Cell Cycle Dependence and Radiation-induced Apoptosis in SCK Mammary Adenocarcinoma Cell Line / 대한방사선종양학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The relationship between environmental pH on the radiation induced-apoptosis in SCK mammary adenocarcinoma cells and cell cycle dependence was investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Mammary adenocarcinoma cells of A/J mice (SCK cells) in exponential growth phase were irradiated with a 137Cs irradiator at room temperature. The cells were irradiated 1 hour after the media was replaced with fresh media at a different pHs. After incubation at 37degrees C for 0-48 h, the extent of apoptosis was determined using agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry. The progression of cells through the cell cycle after irradiation in different pHs was also determined with flow cytometry. RESULTS: The induction of apoptosis by irradiation in pH 6.6 medium was markedly less than that in pH 7.5 medium. When the cells were irradiated and maintained in pH 7.5 medium, the percentage of cells in G2/M phase rapidly increased to about 70% at 12 h after an exposure to 12Gy and returned to control level by 36 h. The percentage of cells in G1 phase decreased as the percentage of cells in G2/M increased. On the other hand, in pH 6.6 medium the percentage of cells in G2/M phases gradually increased to about 45% at 24 h after 12Gy irradiation and then slowly recessed and consequently, as much as 30-35% of the cells were still in the G2/M phase 48 h after irradiation. The percentage of cells in G1 phase then increased as the G2/M arrest began to recede. The radiation-induced G2/M arrest in pH 6.6 medium lasted markedly longer than that in pH 7.5 medium. CONCLUSION: Radiation-induced apoptosis in SCK tumor cells are reversely suppressed in an acidic environment. Radiation-induced G2/M arrest is prolonged in an acidic environment indicating that the suppression of radiation- induced apoptosis and prolongation of radiation-induced G2/M arrest in an acidic environment are related.